Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-09-20

II do not plead in court, but l shall b
heard once more"
Vaguely uneasy Julia said:
"What cause are you about TO undertakes"
"Don't you knowl Do you suppose that
nm going TO leave Roger without defense, il
the hands of tho president and jury ut tn
court of assizesl l shall defend him ant
snatch him from their hands-that is, /
NV strength holds out, Perhaps this is tn
only time they will ever see a poor, mutilate,
body carried into a court room to defend I
brother in arms"
She shuddered in spite Of herself. He
husband defending her victim! She had no
thought OF that And he might save him
What then would become of her vengeancei
"When you know the evidence against him
perhaps you will not feel so sure of yourself
Lucien smiled: ale is 10 moro guilty than
nm. There are certainly some singular things
for instance, the money which was marked
etc. but Roger AYERS 1t was in payment o
n loan. but he refuses TO name the person
What he will not tell the justice he will tel
mo NV opinion is that there is woman ii
This affair, somewhere. When l shall have
learned his secret shall know how to defeuc
him. and his secret must have"
Her throat frightened, and she clasped hei
hands torether mechanically and felt that She
must faint, The next day Lucien, on hi:
crutchcs, went painfully upthe long staircase
at the court of Versailles,
ROGER. inter the examination already ex'
MANNED. Ind remained In condition OF com
nlete prostration. He had hoped until the
Inst minute, for he said to himself: They do
not condemn Innocent men, and one day they
will discover the assassin But the days
passed, and every one brought against him
some new proof OF guilt, and, most poignant
grief Of all, his wife and child were lost to
him, for it was only too evident to him that
they believed him guilty.
He lay stretched on his bed, not asleep, but
worn and weary, when a jailer came and
called him rudey and opened the door to let
Lucen come in, and, overpowered with
emotion, lie almost fell, and Roger received
the poor manned man in his arms.
"Ah, Lucien, then you believe me inno-
cent" r....
"Of course do. know you are and hope
% provo it Did you think for moment l
was going to let another lawyer undertake
your easel What is the matterl You do not
oolz pleased. What makes you look at me
with that wild airi"
Roger drew back, ashamed, overwhelmed
at the thought that this noble man had come
forward, and believed him when no one else
would, and offered to defend him, whom
more than any one else in the world Roger
had wronged. 1t was too much. Roger wept
bitterly.
Lucien said, laughingly, "Have done with
such childishness, my brother in arms and
heart. know that it is very annoying, and
that it causes you profound grief and trouble
but since you are innocent and am here &c
defend you, it will soon be over"
81 wept, Lucien, because | cannot accept
your help, and because your devotion touches
me So"
Show ridiculously you talk, Rogerl But
am here to serve you, and not to hear com
plments. Now tell me why don't you want
me for lawyeri7
u cannot,n said the poor man, and think
ing again of suicide, what TO do, what
way out of this new phase of his sufferings
At last he decided.
"Lucien, do you know the proofs they have
against met You must have seen that they
are extremely grave. Don't deceive yourself,
Lncien; they will condemn me; they cannot
do otherwise, and you will fail 1 shall not
retain lawyer. They can give me one or
not, as they choose"
"That is one of your reasonsf"
aYes.n
''If that is all we will talk Of other things.
Roger shook his head. He did not know
what to say. There was but one thing clear
in his mind, and that was that he could not
permit Lucien to defend him. The lawyer
took one of the prisoners hands in his own.
He read that there were combats in that suf-
fering soul, but could not divine the cause.
"You do not understand me, then, Lucien.
am obliged at last to avow the truth. did
kill Larouettel"
"Are you crazyP
at Is the truth, and do not wish you to
defend me, Lucien, for do not wish to be
saved, and am not worthy of your defense.
$50 you admit that you are the assassin
And all these reproaches, these tears and
groans, these denials before the judgel"
"Comedyl To make them believe me limo
cent?"
swell, then, you authorize me to tell M. De
so that when the case comes on
the mercy of the court. Is that itl""
Roger made n sign of assent.
"Eow, Roger, you know very well that l
don't believe one word OF that"
This was too much for Roger, this proof OF
grand affection, and he gave up utterly all
attempt at subterfuge. But this strange OBJ
stinacy had given birth to an underlined sus-
picion in the mind of Lucien; more All I'M
easiness than n suspicion, but like the unrea-
sonable fear of coming trouble. Later that
scene came into his mind.
snow, since you have done with childish
hess, wish you to answer my questions. All
that you have said TO the three magistrates is
true, is it notl You have omitted nothing,
added nothingP
"Nothing, assure you"
Lucien then questioned him infinitely upon
.he whole affair from beginning TO end, and
ie noted down such few facts as he thought
night help him. After all that had been
written he said:
''Now, the next question Is, from whom did
you receive those hottest This you must
ell me-"
do not insist, Lucien. That 1 cannot tell
Toun ...
"Whyn
"Honor forbids"
Rogers head dropped. Lucien kept silence
moment, but he watched Roger closely, and
hen with nervous laugh exclaimed:
81 will bet you that lsnow.n
Roger shuddered. "Lucien your gayety
lurts me.n
"Divide your secret with me and will
weep with you, If you wish. Only last night
was talking with Julia and l told her was
ure there was woman in this"
"My God My God" murInered Roger, q
,rey to the most inexprcssiblo gloom.
"a married woman, doubtless said Lu-
lien, continuing his torturing questions
I'M disappointed in you, Roger, but must
,ardon. But tell me who she is and 1 will
% to her secretly and find out what she
,nows of whence the money came"
"Have mercy, Lucien."
"Roger, l must think not only Of you, but
Il Henriette and Suzanne SO, 1t being mar.
led woman, you fear the husbands anger
viii fall on her and the dishonor for all par
les. 1t is always so, sooner or later, in these
matters, Were you friend TO this woman's
Roger thougLta moment, and remember
ng that at that time Lucien was scarcely
,nown 10 him, he said no. But, in spite OF
II Lucien could say or do, Roger would not
Iivulge the name.
"You are very wrong. know YOU are in
iocent, and fear the worst II you persist.
Jome, will leave you to reflect, and in the
will go about your vindication,
nd shall see you before tho day of trial.